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Five in running for World Player award

Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to be named FIFA World Player of the Year for the second year in a row.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo is included in the nominations for FIFA World Player of the Year

The Real Madrid forward one of five players on the shortlist, all with either Madrid or Barcelona

Lionel Messi is favorite to land the gong after recently winning the Ballon d'Or award for European Player of the Year

(CNN) -- Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been included on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

The 2008 winner is one of five contenders for the honor alongside Real Madrid team-mate Kaka and Barcelona trio Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Xavi.

Ronaldo transferred from Manchester United to the Bernabeu for a world record fee in the region of $130 million in July, while Brazil playmaker Kaka joined from AC Milan in the summer.

Argentina's Messi and Spain midfield duo Iniesta and Xavi were at the forefront of Barcelona's treble-winning success, which saw the Catalan club claim the Champions League, the Primera Division title and the Copa del Rey.

Messi is favorite to land the gong after recently winning the Ballon d'Or award for the European Player of the Year.

The nominees were confirmed following a poll of national teams' captains and coaches from a list drawn up of FIFA Football Committee experts.

The winnerswill be announced at the FIFA World Player Gala on December 21 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Also at the gala the best 11 players of the year, as chosen by over 50,000 professional players from all over the world, will be honored in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI -- while the FIFA Puskas Award will be presented to the player who has scored the 'most beautiful goal' during the past year.